MultiChoice Zambia shuts shops and service centre outlets as over 100 staffers lose their jobs.

by Thinus Ferreira

MultiChoice Zambia is shutting several shops and service centre outlets across Zambia at the end of the month that will see over 100 people lose their jobs.

MultiChoice in response to a media query confirmed to TVwithThinus that it is shuttering branches across Lusaka and Kitwe at the end of June as part of "a business optimisation process" with others elsewhere in the country to follow.

Over 100 people working in Eastpark Mall in Lusaka, the ECL Mall and others will close down at the end of this month. 

"MultiChoice Zambia will be implementing a business optimisation process and to this effect, we will be restructuring our branches and migrating service to our full-service centre agencies The impacted branches are ECL Kitwe, Ndola Rekays, East Park and Manda Hill," MultiChoice Zambia says in a holding statement.

"The objective is to optimise and integrate customer experience in line with the mission to deliver value to customers by making great entertainment more accessible through cutting-edge technology. The business is optimising its operations to align with an advanced customer service delivery model, whilst increasing agility amidst challenging economic conditions," the company says.

"Operating in an industry driven by advancing technologies, the business must continue to drive efficiencies, whilst being responsive to evolving customer needs to ensure that the business remains relevant, competitive and sustainable in a challenging macro-economic environment," says Leah Kooma, MultiChoice Zambia managing director.

"As a responsible corporate citizen, we have worked hard to minimise the impact of this change on our people and remain committed to supporting all staff that will be affected. The process is guided by the labour laws of Zambia."

MultiChoice appoints Kobus Bezuidenhout as MultiChoice Africa Southern region director, Leah Kooma as MultiChoice Zambia managing director.

by Thinus Ferreira

MultiChoice has promoted Kobus Bezuidenhout to the position of MultiChoice Africa Southern region director, with Leah Kooma who has been moved into his former position and has been appointed as new MultiChoice Zambia managing director from August.

Kobus Bezuidenhout served as MultiChoice Zambia managing director for just over the past two years since April 2019 before which he was also a MultiChoice regional director for West Africa based in Ghana, and worked for MultiChoice Nigeria for 8 years as general manager.

Leah Kooma has been MultiChoice Zambia's chief customer officer until now. She joined MultiChoice in 2017 as GOtv Zambia commercial general manager.

Leah Kooma holds a degree in development studies and economics from the University of Zambia and holds a Master of Business Administration from the University of South Wales.

Kobus Bezuidenhout in a statement, speaking about Leah Kooma'sappointment, says "We firmly believe that Leah will be instrumental in propelling the business to the next level. Leah has already contributed immensely to the many achievements and success of the Zambia team and I have no doubt she will excel in this new position".

"As MultiChoice we are managed and run by local talent and strive to provide all our employees with new opportunities to enhance and increase expertise. Leah Kooma brings a wealth of experience to her new role of providing strategic leadership to the team and strategies aligned with driving the growth of MultiChoice Zambia."

Leah Kooma says "I couldn't be more honoured to have been chosen to lead the Zambia business. I look forward to leading this team and to driving our digital and customer-first strategies to the next level".